Arch and ankle supporter



June 25, j COHN u ARCH AND ANKLE SUPPORTER Filed May 2l, 1928 Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACK coHN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

ARCH AND ANKLE SUPPRTER.

Applcationled May 21,

This invention relates to a novel and improved arch and ankle supporter, and it is the principal object of my invention to pro vide an arch and ankle supporter adapted to snugly fit the foot and hold up the arch without discomfort to the wearer.

Another object of my invention isthe provision of an arch and ankle supporting member which I call Fitsrite and which is made of an elastic material which will adapt itself to the size of foot and ankle within certain limits, thus allowing the marketing of the device in three sizes only, a small one for children, a medium, and a large size instead of requiring its sale by special numbers as heretofore.

My improved arch and ankle support'will moreover help to massage the ankle and thus reduce the same and when stretched, will become porous and permit free perspiration.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an arch and ankle supporter adapted, as it is drawn around arch and ankle, to be properly adjusted by means of a hook or snap fastening means engaging a series of fastener openings or sockets, and protected against touching the skin of the wearer or to be pressed into the flesh while it is worn under 'a slice or with half shoes, and which will not impede the use of stockings or shoes.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of an arch and ankle support leaving the foot exposed and open, so that instep may rise normally when the arch is raised by drawing the webbing tighter, and irritation of the foot is positively avoided.`

lt is furthermore one of the objects of my invention to provide an arch and ankle support having a minimum of comparatively smooth seams, and particularly no seam underneath the foot apt to irritate the sole, and which furthermore is made of a washable fabric, thus being at all times presentable when worn while walking, dancing, or during the performance of athletic exercises etc.

My improved arch and ankle support moreover allows a separate adjustment for the support of arch and ankle increasing the amount of elasticity and causing a more even pressure to be exerted. j

Furthermore the ankle supporter may be worn on a swollen ankle and when the ankle is reduced the supporter may be tightened to lit properly at all times.

The supporter may be washed any number 1928. Serial N0. 279,459.

of times without fear of deterioration for this 3 inch webbing is made of 50 strands of pure Para rubber.

Moreover the supporter is so constructed as to conform with the shape of either the right or left foot.

The purpose of this band is to eliminate the question of sizes so far as the dealer and consumer is concerned. In the handling of this band the dealer eliminates/the stocking of seldom called for sizes and at the same time is better prepared to care for the re quirements of his customers, regardless of the size of their feet.

A further purpose of this band is to e1iminate at all times the question as to Whether one is perfectly fitted or not` for it may be adjusted to tit properly at all times any size foot.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then be more specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my arch and ankle supporter, as it appears in position on foot and ankle.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the arch and ankle. supporter constructed according to my invention before its application to a foot.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the arch and ankle supporter in position on a foot.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 1.

As illustrated, my improved and novel arch and ankle supporter comprises an elastic band or Web 10 formed in approximately its center into a member 11 having substantially the shape of a loop member or cuff with a front opening '12 for the passage of the toe part of` the foot. i

Small, smooth, and light tapes 13, 14 are provided to strengthen the outer edges of the elastic band at the point where their inner edges are connected by a tape 17 to form the cuff or loop member 11 with the toe opening 12 and from which the shanks 15, 16 diverge, or at points where the supporter is subjected to the greatest stress when in use as arch and ankle supporter with the toes passed through the toe opening 12. The outer ends of shanks 15, 16 are equipped with smooth strengthening seams 18, 19. The shank 15 has secured thereto at its lower end, as at 20, a loop member 21, the upper face of which has a plurality of openingsor sockets 22 formed therein adapted to be engaged by a hook or snap button 23 provided on the opposite face of shank 16.

From the foregoing description when taken `in connection with the'accompanying"drawing, the operation and application of my arch and ankle supporter will be entirely clear, and it will beevident that if the tie part of the footl is passed from the rear throughopening 12, and the shanks 15, 16 are folded about the 3 lankle as shown, the snap or other fastener .can then be closed in the well known manner to accommodate the device to the size of foot Aand to raise the arch to a desired degree.

1t iste be understood that 1 have disclosed as one example of the many ways in which my device may be practically constructed, the

preferred form thereof, and that 1 may make such-changes as come within thescope of the appended claims without deviation from my v invention or from the principle involved.

Havingv thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent is: Y. Y

v 1. Anarch, and ankle supporter comprising a single strip of elastic webbing, a Vloop-or l ,cu formed intermediate the ends of said websnugly vfitting the" foot and supporting the arch, shanks formed with said web adapted to bing for allowingthe passage of the toe part of a foot and forsupporting the arch and al- `lowing theV drawing-of thesupporter over the instep of a foot, the sh anks of said web adapt- -ed to snugly engage the ankle from opposite sides, meansfor connecting said shanksover the instep of the foot, .a means for adj ustably uniting the ends of said shanks over the ankle,

and a means for preventing said, uniting means from entering the flesh of the wearer. Y

2. ,An-arch and ankle supporter comprising a.web,a loop or cud lformed with said web snugly engage the ankle from opposite sides,

.1a smooth band connecting both Shanks over j the instep, a fastening loop having a plurality of holes therein attached to one of said shanks yand having'its body separated from said l l shank, and a means on the other shank adapted to engage -the holes in said loop for allowing an adjustment of the support to the size of the foot, said loop proteetingthe flesh of the foot against engagement and irritation by contact with said means engaging the holes in v said loop.V

y Y formed with said webbing adapted to snugly vengage and fit around the ankle, a loop cured at one'of'its ends to one of said shanks and having a plurality of perforations therein', the 'other end of 'said loop spaced' from over the instep tapes at the outer ends of said Shanks, smooth strengthening means 1ntermediate the ends of sai shanks, a loop secured at one of its ends to one of said shanks on one side thereof and provided with a plurality of sockets, and a snap-button on the `other side of the other of said shanks adapted to engage any of said sockets for allowing an adjustment of the attachment of said .supporter on a foot, the other end of said loop being spaced from its shank to protect the foot against irritation by said snap-button.

5. An improved arch and ankle sup ort comprising a single strip of elastic web ing yieldable transversely of the ankle only, a seamless arch supporting cuff formed with said webbing intermediate its ends, the ends of said webbing adapted to be folded snugly and smoothly about the ankle from opposite sides and permanently united over the inste a, transversely thereto, a means for adjustably connecting the ends of said webbing over the ankle, and a means for protecting the ankle against irritation by said connecting means.

6. An arch and ankle supporter of the class described comprising a single stri J of elastic that is folded intermediate its ends to form a loop to allow the passage of the toe portion of the foot therethrough, the end portions of the strips being disposed upwardl in diverging relation from the intermediate loop, the diverging ends being connected together at their juncture with the intermediate loop, said diverging end portions being adapted to be wrapped snugly around the opp posite sides of the ankle, and means for securing the free ends of the strip together.

7 An arch and ankle supporter of the class described comprising a single strip of elastic l that is folded intermediate its ends to form a loop to allow the passage of the toe portion of the foot therethrough, the end portions of the strips being disposed upwardly in diverging relation from the intermediate loop, the diverging ends being connected together at their juncture with the intermediate loop, said diverging end portions being adapted to be wrapped snugly around the opposite sides of the ankle, means for securing the free ends of the strip together, and stress distributing strips secured at predetermined points on the elastic strip. Y

8. An arch and ankle supporter of the class described comprising a single strip of elastio that is folded intermediate its ends to form a loop to allow the passage of the toe portion of the foot therethrough, the end portions of the strips being disposed upwardly in diverging relation from the intermediate loop7 the diverging ends being connected together at their juncture with the intermediate loop, said diverging end portions being adapted to be Wrapped snugly7 around the opposite sides of the ankle, a member provided with spaced openings secured on one end portion of said strip, and a fastening element attached to the other end portion of said strip for detachable engagement With one of the openings in said member to adjustablyi secure the free ends of the strips together as and for the purpose described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 5th day of May, A. D. 1928.

JACK COHN. 

